My son has a 2002 TJ that is in need of a new top. Can anyone tell me if a 2004 or 2005 top skin will fit the 2002 jeep frame. He found a 2004 or 2005 top skin fairly cheap, but it is a 3 hr. drive to pick up the top, so before we trek down to get, I wanted input on if it would fit. Also, if it will fit, will his original windows zip to the 04 top?

As far as I know they are the same so long as they were both the factory top. I don't believe that there were any changes to the top that would keep it from working and the windows should be interchangeable.

I know that the header changed on the tops starting in 2003 making a complete top setup from 03 and newer not usable on a 97-02. Now as far as the skin I haven't personally tried to use one, but I would imagine that the header change could've caused changes to the way it mounts to the frame.

I know that the header changed on the tops starting in 2003 making a complete tops setup from 03 and newer not usable on a 97-02. Now as far as the skin I haven't personall tried to use one, but I would imagine that the header change could've caused changes to the way it mounts to the frame.

I just got an almost new 2004-2006 complete top for $150 and, of course, it doesn't clamp right on to my 2000. The rear bow brackets are different and the windshield header is NOT compatible.

Does anyone know if you could buy a 2004 windshield (providing you found one the same color or knew how to match paint...) Could you then clamp the 2004 Mopar top on to a 2000? I really like the 2004-2006 top. But if it won't work it won't work...

It will fit IF you get the frame, and header and windows and the mounting brackets. They changed the frame to accommodate the larger roll bar padding in '03. And the window zipper orientation was switched. IOW, if you get everything it will be fine, otherwise you'll have issues.

97-02 and 03-06 softtops are different. Shape of rollbars changed, and header changed on the windshield frame. As for fabric, there are actually 3 different fabrics used from 97 up to 06. 97-2000 was standard Jeep topping material (about 18 oz fabric). In 2001, the factory top was the original 4-layer sailcloth fabric (polyvinyl layers, top and bottom with thin layer of fiberglass over a butyl rubber layer). Lasted two years because it was really expensive and very heavy. 2003 factory sailcloth was 3-layer and slightly lighter but retained most of the noise and insulating properties of the prior fabric.

As InfernoGirl stated the '03 and newer top will fit on the '97-'02 TJ's if all the hardware (frame) from the newer top is used.

I put a complete 2006 factory sunrider top on a 2000 without problems. Even using the slightly shorter roll bar brackets that came on the 2000, which were later changed out to the newer style. There have been no leaking or any other issues with the header fitment to the older windshield frame.